Hey guys! I’m getting ready for school but realized it’s been a while since i’ve posted. Here’s some fun statistics for ya.
HIV Prevalence Rate in Lesotho: about 24%
HIV Prevalence Rate for 16-48 year olds: 48%
Peace Corps volunteers: about 90
Students at my school: 180
My typical class size: 30(very small i’m lucky)
Average class grade on my last quiz: 45%
Average class grades from when I started: 49%
Passing mark in Lesotho: 50%
Rands I earn a day: 63
Assuming the exchange rate is 7.5 that is in USD: 8.33/day
Hours I work/week at school: 40
hours I work at home: a lot
Adding my readjustment allowance for return to the U.S. I make: 14.40/day
Amount most Basotho think I make a day: 20,000,000,000
Months in Lesotho: 9
Days: about 275
How much I miss my family: way toooo much.
Internet left on my 1,000 rand wireless package: 1.51GB (Just got a random message…good to know)
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ryan, My PC invite is Lesotho leaving Nov. 2. You glad you took the leap? Karen
Hi Karen! Congrats on the invite!
Lesotho is a roller coaster, but all told, I really enjoy it. I’ve met some incredible people and learned a lot about how the world works. There’s lessons you learn out here that you can’t learn anywhere else in the world. I’ve only been here 9 months and already learned so much and had some of the greatest experiences of my life.
It’s not easy, and I don’t know a single volunteer who isn’t thoroughly frustrated with some recent event in their lives or another. It’s a challenge. It can be really draining emotionally, but as I said, the lessons and the friendships are worth it.
Congrats again, hope to see you out here come November! Let me know if you have any PC or packing questions!
Hi Ryan,
I just got my invite for Lesotho for November 2nd also! I just wanted to let you know that I started seriously researching Peace Corps in December 2009, and your blog was one of the first I came upon (shortly after you had arrived in Lesotho). I became so interested in Lesotho through your blog and some of the others in your group…. I told my recruiter in my interview how much I was interested in Lesotho, and now 7 months later, I have my invite for there! I just wanted you to know how your blog has inspired me! I look forward to meeting you all soon
Karen: Congratulations! I look forward to meeting you in November!
Haha, i’m so surprised and happy to see that you guys are reading my blog, thanks! Congratulations on coming to Lesotho, I can’t wait to meet you guys! Let me know if I can help with anything.
Congratulations to all of you PC invites. From a parents point of view I knew that this would be a great opportunity for Ryan, although, personally , it was very difficult for me to watch him leave. The communication has been tough, as it is so expensive. I have only been able to speak to him 5-6 times since he has been gone. It takes 1-2 months to get a package, and the letters are few. We keep up with email, but a real hug is missed daily. Now , with all that said, do I wish he did not go? NO- I am so glad that he is able to live this experience, to teach to share, to learn new beliefs, to help others, let others help him, and just learn to see life from another culture that does not have the access our country has. Most of all I am glad he is having the experience of understanding the thought process of a mind that has been brought up differently than ours. The Art, the music, the daily life….What a great experience for him.
I do not believe a hour of the day has gone by since he left that I did not think of him. During our Family get togethers, we all speak of how much we miss him. My youngest son and I often hug each other, and tear up because we miss our Ryan. Yet, I am the Proudest Mother in the town that I live in, and I know our sacrifice is also a way of helping to improve the world…one step at a time. Blessings to all of you. Momma Bear